Hello GBAtempers and welcome to my ongoing project to create a novel. Entitled Terrestria, the story is set in an undefined future where an MMO can completely replace physical reality.

Warning: Spoilers inside!

Chapter 1: Login

Today was the day the game “Terrestria” finally released to the public. Hundreds of people of many different ages waited in the cafeteria of the login facility. They clutched small, numbered tickets as if they were the most valuable thing in the world. Most sat at round tables in groups and engaged in quiet conversation.

Glen looked around the room. He recognized a few of the faces, but for the most part everyone was unfamiliar. He tapped his foot on the ground and checked his watch. As if on cue, three people walked in. A smile spread across his face as he waved. “Guys,” he called. “Over here.”

The group consisted of two girls and a guy. All three looked roughly Glen’s age. He got up extended his hand and said, “Elizabeth, Alex, Ruby. It’s great to see you all.”

Alex shook and said, “Likewise. It’s been almost five years right Glen? You don’t look any older than you did when you left us on your twenty first birthday!”

Elizabeth flipped her black hair back and hugged him. “Do you know how much we missed you?”

Glen smiled and said, “Yeah, I apologize about cutting contact. Jean is pretty careful when it comes to his game. I suppose the reason why I don’t look any older will become clear in a few minutes Alex.”

The last girl spoke up. “It really shocked me when we all received invitations to come play. What strings did you pull to make that happen bro?”

Glen smiled. “Well sis, it’s a perk of every beta tester. Everyone here has either participated in the beta, or has been invited by a tester to attend the pre-release.”

“I see,” Alex said. “Say, why is is there even a pre-release? I mean what’s the point?”

“It’s a way of giving back to the testers. Just wait about ten minutes. Jean is going to de-brief us and all your questions will be answered.” Glen pulled a few tickets from his pocket. “Here, these are to access the scanners. Once you’re registered, these will be absorbed by the system.”

“Virtual reality in the most realistic way possible.” Glen smiled. “Take whatever you know about games and throw them out the window. This is on another scale entirely.”

Just then the loudspeakers burst into into sound. “Ahem… is this thing on? Oh right! Welcome players. I trust the excitement has been mounting?”

Glen and his friends joined in with the chorus of “yeahs” that filled the room. A few people chuckled at Jean’s antics.

“Well then, I’ll get right down to business. It seems we are in full attendance, and all our facilities are online and operating at optimal capacity. Since we have fresh faces, let me start out by saying that Terrestria isn’t just another virtual reality game. Take everything you know about video games and throw those out of the window.

Thanks to my revolutionary new technology and software, I can virtualize any object I wish into the video game world. Even the complex structures of humans can be done without fault. It is completely painless and takes less than a minute.

We call this process virtualization and de-virtualization. This physically removes the object from the scanner and reassembles it in the virtual world. When the virtual body is incapacitated, the physical one is reassembled in the scanner to return for respawn. Biological data is stored in a quantum database which will assure that there will be no problems during transition between worlds, nor can there be any cheating.

There are several benefits to this process. Not only are your cells renewed each time you transition which grants a longer life to them, it also freezes them in a sort of stasis. Inside the game, you can live as long as the server does. There is no aging. As such I have come up with a unique sort of solution for the experience.

Thanks to the engine, I can dilate time at will. Currently, one month in the real world equals a decade in the game. Not only does this provide a one of a kind experience, but it is also sustainable. Terrestria is an entire Universe. You can always find more to do.

If you’ll look to the right, you’ll see a technician bringing small tablets to each table. With these tablets you may freely customize your in-game avatar. They use facial recognition software to build a template for your character. After the initial scan and editing, you’ll need to choose your role. Based on the things you choose, those will be your starting characteristics. Starting in one hour, you will have five in-game days to get a head start. I look forward to seeing what you do.”

As the intercom went silent, several technicians approached their table. People all around whispered with worried and stunned tones. Both Alex and Elizabeth looked at Glen with questioning glances. Glen nodded politely and accepted the tablet from the tech. He messed around with the device for a moment and said, “I told you to take everything you knew and throw it out the window.”

“There is no way this is possible.” Alex scratched his head. “I mean really? Completely different reality inside a virtual world?”

Elizabeth looked just as incredulous. “I’m having trouble believing it too Alex.”

Ruby seemed to be the only person who didn’t sniff in skepticism. “Guys, if Glen has played, then you might think he’d be calling bull if it wasn’t true.”

Glen nodded. “Correct Ruby.” He pulled a small stylus from the tablet’s side and handed it to her. “I’ve already set up my profile. Just follow the onscreen instructions and I’ll give you a brief overview of how the login is going to go down.”

As the party did what they were told, Glen launched into his explanation. “First off, when we get into the game, we’ll be spawning in the grasslands. It has weaker enemies meant to get players accustomed to the game. Be be ready for a fight. After that we’re to head to the player city. It’s a new addition that even I have not seen.”

Ruby passed the tablet to Elizabeth. “So, if I understand this correctly we’ll be attacked on login? That’s evil.”

Glen nodded. “Yep, it’s a way to weed out those who can’t adapt. Since we are getting a head start, it’s only fitting for us to have to pass a test. Keep in mind though, we beta testers are going to protect our friends.”

A raucous laughter split the air. “Protect your friends? Hah. I’ve never heard of something so ridiculous in my life.”

All four of them turned their attention to the man. Dressed in a set of expensive branded slacks and a matching shirt, he walked with a pretentious swagger. “Giord…” Glen muttered.

“Silver, you don’t really believe that do you?” He pushed a nearby chair over and placed his right foot on it. “It’s the survival of the fittest, and only the best will join us this week.”

Glen stood up and looked him in the eye. “Yes, I will protect my friends. Survival of the fittest... you’re full of yourself.”

“Oh?” He laughed. “We’ll see who’s full of themselves, Silver Knight.” He returned to his seat.

After a momentary silence, Alex asked, “Who was that, and why did he call you Silver?”

“His name is Giord. Like me, he’s a top numbered beta tester. You might consider him an arch rival.” Glen sighed. “He’s an animal, and I don’t like him. My player name, or handle, is Silver. You’ll see why when we get in game.”

As Alex took the tablet Elizabeth passed, he asked, “So, this player city, what is it supposed to be like?”

“I have no idea, but what I do know is that it contains more than enough room to house Earth’s population, as well as enough room to allow player owned businesses.” Glen’s eyes lit up. “It’s going to look amazing I bet.”

Alex’s tongue stuck out a bit as he moved the stylus around. “What are you doing?” Elizabeth asked.

“I’m creating my character.”

“What ‘creation’ involves that much focus and effort?” Ruby furrowed her brow. “It was incredibly easy to change everything I wanted.” She leaned over to peer at the screen.

“No!” Alex moved away. “It’s a secret.”

“Fine.” She returned to her seat. “I wasn’t that interested anyway.”

“Anyway,” Glen said. “The nice thing about Terrestria is that you never have to leave. Just don’t get killed and you’ll be just fine.”

The technician came over and picked up the tablet. He had to practically take it from Alex’s hands since he hadn’t finished yet. The group laughed at the look of injured disappointment written on his face.

By the time forty-four minutes passed, the entire room had gotten quiet. Almost so much that one could hear a pin drop. The air felt heavy with repressed excitement, and everyone held onto their tickets for dear life. When the doors to the scanners opened, everyone jumped at the hydraulic whoosh.

Along the wall were almost a hundred human sized pods. Each one of them had a number atop it set in a small LCD screen. “Please step into the numbered pod that corresponds with your ticket.”

The robotic voice startled everyone into action.There were over a thousand players lined up, and every second was precious playtime. “Well guys, that’s my cue.” Glen looked at his friends and flashed his ticket. “I’m the first beta tester, so I’m also the first player.”

As he stepped into the numbered one chamber, they waved at him. Within moments, the translucent glass doors rammed home. He waved back and listened for instructions.

”Please stand inside the circle in the middle of the floor.”

The unit powered up and beeped as a panel flipped out. Silver’s vital signs displayed at a sampling size of one hundred times per second. Another panel mimicked the first, and scanned his retina. “Name: Glen Wilde. Handle: Silver. Eye Color: Hazel. Hair: Brown. Height: six feet, two inches. Previous login detected, defaulting to original loadout. Scanning. Please wait.”

The ring he stood in emitted a green light. It swiped back and forth several times as it constructed a green wire frame around him. “Analyzing bone and muscle density. Predicting basic growth patterns and uploading genome. Please wait.”

“Calculating personality values, projecting growth algorithms.” Electric charges passed across his skin in waves. He felt his arms rise up into a ‘T’ arrangement, and he lifted from the floor. He slowly spun in a circle as the computer finished its calculations. “Data upload complete. Welcome, Silver, to the Utopia of Terrestria.” His hair stood on end and a flash blinded him. “Virtualization.”